Weft feeder with turn separator including multiple diameter swift

摘要

A weft feeder in which a variable-diameter drum receives from a windmilling arm multiple turns of thread that form a weft reserve, and in which a variable-diameter swift is associated with the drum to transport the turns from the base of the drum to its head; the swift is formed by multiple rods which protrude in a cyclic manner from corresponding slots of the drum; the extent of the protrusion of the rods from the slots determines the mutual distance between the turns of the thread reserve. The swift and the drum are formed by corresponding sectors that are radially movable and are controlled by respective radial shifting mechanisms, each of which comprises at least one actuation gear that meshes with individual gears for shifting the respective drum and swift sectors. The pair of actuation gears is turned by a single transmission element which is controlled by an actuation knob that is also used to vary the extent of the protrusion of the rods.